As any homeowner can tell you, sometimes unexpected expenses arise. Unfortunately, one of my most major emergencies happened at the most inopportune times: Saturday, just as I was headed to Eddie Mack's funeral.

Let me give you a little back story....

For a few months, my family had been planning a big party for my grandmother's 75th birthday.  So, I've been extremely stressed in the days leading up to it.  It just so happens that we had a death in the family, and the funeral was in Chicago last Saturday.  I went to the funeral, which of course, was an unexpected expense; but it is what it is.  While in Chicago for that funeral, I got the call that Eddie Mack had passed.  Considering the fact that it was on the weekend, I already knew that his service would be held the following weekend.... On my grandmother's birthday.  So, I started preparing for both events in advance.

By Friday night, I was READY! I had all of my ducks in a row.  I'd cooked everything I planned to cook.  I had my clothes for both the funeral and the party together.  I'd made arrangements for my daughter, and so on.  Nothing could go wrong because I was VERY prepared!  What I hadn't prepared for was for my bathtub/shower to malfunction.

My daughter took a shower, and when she came out, the water wouldn't turn off.  Determined not to miss Mack's funeral, as I wanted to show my support to his family, I got someone to my house to check out the water and I left for the funeral.  By the time I got there, the family had already been seated and the church was packed.  I had an usher to grab Ed Ramsey, and I talked to him just to make sure someone knew I was there, and I went back home.  The water ran another hour or so before my brother went under my house and turned it off.  Turns out, it was just the cold water.  Somehow, he turned off the cold water that only went to that bathroom. So, it was inconvenient but not so bad. We could still use the other bathrooms and the faucet in the kitchen.

It's such a blessing to have people in your corner who can help in your time of need.  While my crisis was underway, I called my friend Chris to ask what to do (this was before my brother turned off the water).  He guided me the best he could over the phone and told me he'd come over to check it out as soon as possible.  It's great to have handy friends that keep their word.  He came over yesterday and fixed my plumbing!  I would have been much less than a lady if I didn't at least offer him some dinner.  I also made sure he had cold water and wiped the sweat from his face while he worked.  It wasn't a matter of trying to "get him," but sometimes the smallest ways we show appreciation to people mean the most. And as long as he knows I appreciate all he does, he might be more apt to help the next time I come calling... Which I'm sure I will.

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